Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Ross Edgley's Great British Swim Voted 2018 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year

The year 2018 saw an incredible number of outstanding swims by outstanding swimmers guided by passionate volunteers and governed by experienced administrators and coaches all over the world. The athletes proved the bar in all the various niches of open water swimming continues to be elevated.

"All the nominations for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year were heroic and epic, completed by exceptional athletes," said Steven Munatones. "The nominees are representative of millions of others in the open water swimming world. Each of these swims made a significant impact on the sport either locally, nationally, or internationally.

Few made a global impact as did Ross Edgley with his unprecedented 2,884 km assisted stage swim around Great Britain that entertained and educated millions of non-swimmers around the world about the challenges, difficulties, logistics and operations surrounding the sport of open water swimming.

His 157-day, 209-stage circumnavigation swim around the coastlines of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland between June 1st and November 4th started and ended with a bang on Margate Beach in the UK.

The humble British fitness and sports performance expert, celebrity and author - with the support of Red Bull Media House - created unique videos filmed on his mother ship that were informative and fun to watch. His explanations of what he experienced were interesting and insightful, his descriptions of the conditions were both comprehensive and inspirational.

While the Great British Swim is in itself a simple concept, the effort to complete the task was a massive undertaking sponsored by Red Bull that required tremendous teamwork by a large and extended crew of professionals and volunteers. His audacious plan resulted in a unique promotion of the sport of open water swimming."

Edgley joined the following previous winners of the World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year:

Edgley's record of swimming around Great Britain was documented by his support crew including escort pilot Matt Knight:

Swim #1
From Margate beach to off Ramsgate via Foreland Point
Start Time: 1715 on June 1st
Start Position: 51 deg 23'.338 N 001 deg 222'.636 E
End Time: 2300 on June 1st
End Position: 51 deg 18'.059 N 001 deg 26'.897 E
Distance Covered: 8.84 miles
Comment: All well aboard, now at Ramsgate expecting to leave again at 0500 to be ready to start swimming again at 0600

Swim #4
From approximately halfway between Dover & Folkestone to approximately 3 miles S of Hythe
Start Time: 0810 on June 3rd
Start Position: 51 deg 05'.593 N 001 deg 15'.898 E
End Time: 1220
End Position: 51 deg 00'.804 N 001 deg 05'.633
Distance Covered: 8.2 miles
Comment: We should be heading off again about 2000 this evening towards Dungeness Point

Swim #6:
From 2 miles NE of Dungeness point to off Lydd Firing Range
Start Time: 0810 on June 4th
Start Position: 50 deg 57'.132 N 001 deg 01'. 307 E
End Time: 1300
End Position: 50 deg 52'. 734 N 000 deg 51'.050 E
Distance Covered: 9.1 nautical miles
Comment: We have been very busy managing a number of issues mainly arising out of Ross's wetsuits not really being up to the job. He has been getting very cold and also suffering from nasty chafe wounds, both of which are restricting his ability to move at expected speeds or stay in the water as long as he needs to. That said progress is steady.

Swim #9
From Hastings to off Bexhill
Start Time: 1850 am on June 5th
Start Position: 50 deg 50'.513 N 000 deg 36'.020 E
End Time: 2200 BST
End Position: 50 deg 49'.414 N 000 deg 30'.809 E
Distance Covered: 3.5 nautical miles
Comment: We have arrived in Eastbourne! Beachy head is our next major landmark, possibly on tonights tide, which will be swim 11. All is well aboard.Swim #10
From Off Bexhill Reef to Off Eastbourne
Start Time: 0740 BST on June 6th
Start Position: 50 DEG 49'.414 N 000 deg 30'.809 E
End Time: 1140 BST
End Position: 50 deg 46'.447 N 000 deg 22'.154 E
Distance Covered: 6.62 nautical miles
Comment: We are in Newhaven having had a marvellous rounding of Beachy Head in Millpond conditions. Suzanne has been relieved by Taz for a couple of days.

Swim #22
From Salt mead Buoy (solent west) to off Christchurch
Start Time: 1030 on June 12th
Start Position: 50 deg 44'.470 N 001 deg 22'.662 W
End Time: 1440
End Position: 50 deg 40'.380 N 001 deg 40'.542 W
Distance Covered: 12.36 miles
Comment: Great tides through the solent narrows; weather sunny with light winds. We are past the Isle of Wight! We have had to take shelter from a gale in Weymouth. As a result, there was a late night Swim 12th-13th only one long day swim yesterday (13th) and no night swim overning 13th-14th. However, we have now done the day swim of 14th so there are 3 swims here to report.

Swim #27
From Chesil to off Bridport
Start Time: 1300 on June 15th
Start Position: 50 deg 33'.088 N 002 deg 31'.241 W
End Time: 1730
End Position: 50 deg 38'.252 N 002 deg 39'. 897 W
Distance Covered: 7.56 miles
Comment: Sunny with south west winds. Around Portland Bill and we are looking at Devon in the distance! We are being slowed by strong headwinds at the moment so 28 and 29 have yielded only small gains - but we are anticipating better in the next few days once the winds ease.

Swim #29
Off Lyme Regis
Start Time: 1420 on June 16th
Start Position: 50 deg 40'. 740 N 002 deg 50'. 524 W
End Time: 1720
End Position: 50 deg 40'.672N 002 deg 55'.364 W
Distance Covered: 3.1 miles
Comment: Wild & windy conditions; a tough couple of days in strong westerly winds. We are calling it the Battle of Lyme Bay. Only a short swim yesterday morning and nothing at all in the evening. Picking up this morning, we are nearly out of the winds now: we are off Sidmouth this morning.

Swim #35
Off Teignmouth to off Torquay
Start Time: 0550 on June 20th
Start Position: 50 deg 31'.581 N 003 deg 21'.608 W
End Time: 1000
End Position: 50 deg 27'.902 N 003 deg 24'. 645 W
Distance Covered: 4.4 miles
Comment: Swum in overcast conditions. We have finally cleared Lyme bay and are looking at charts for Cornwall! Better weather, good tides, Visits from the Royal Navy (HMS Charger and HMS Biter) as well as a fly past from a Navy helicopter have buoyed Ross's morale...and we had a visit from a tall ship as well as dolphins.

Swim #41
Off Yealm to off Plymouth Sound
Start Time: 0815 on June 23rd
Start Position: 50 deg 15'.290 N 004 deg 01'. 460 W
End Time: 1230
End Position: 50 deg 17'.270 N 004 deg 10'.296 W
Distance Covered: 6 miles
Comment: Swum in perfect weather for swimming. Thanks as always, we cross the Border into Cornwall tonight. Suzanne and Harriet well as are the rest of the crew. FANTASTIC WEATHER CONTINUES. We are looking at a fair forecast for rounding Landsend which will be a huge bonus!

Swim #46
From Dodman to Off Falmouth
Start Time: 2000 on June 25th
Start Position: 50 deg 12'.774 N 004 deg 44'.853 W
End Time: 2310
End Position: 50 deg 08'. 938 N 004 deg 51'. 498 W
Distance Covered: 5.8 miles
Comment: Swum in moonlight and glassy calm. Ross with a face mask on to stop jellyfish. We hope to make it to Lizard Point tomorrow! A tiring few days with rough seas off Lizard point, but we have now made it to Mounts Bay and Lands End is within grasp!

Swim #50
From Mounts Bay off Mullion to Mounts Bay middle
Start Time: 1010 on June 28th
Start Position: 49 deg 57'.529 N 005 deg 16'.742 W
End Time: 1450
End Position: 50 deg 01'. 200 N 005 deg 28'.867 W
Distance Covered: 8.7 miles
Comment: Swum in sunshine. All well aboard. We have had a busy time with the rounding of landsend and some long days and nights, as well as some stops with no signal in the remoter coves of NW cornwall.

Swim #55
July 2nd 2018 start 0600 end 0920
From Off Trevaunce Cove to Off Crantock
Start Time: 0600 on July 2nd
Start Position: 50 deg 20’.835 N 005 deg 16’.546 W
End Time: 0920
End Position: 50 deg 23’.866N 005 deg 12’.123 W
Distance Covered: 4.3 miles
Comment: Swum in fair weather and lumpy seas. All well, we are looking at NEWQUAY THIS EVENING! Gosh things are moving fast we have been rattling off the miles and I can hardly keep up. Halfway from Bude to Lundy tonight.

Swim #70
From Off St Govans Head to Off Broadhaven
Start Time: 1150 on July 9th
Start Position: 51 deg 25’.023N 004 Deg 58’.222 W
End Time: 1600
End Position: 51 deg 29’.920 N 004 deg 51’. 944 W
Distance Covered: 6.41 miles
Comment: Swim in sunshine with minke whale accompanying. Having tick tacked across the Bristol Channel to utilise the cross currents, we are now in Pembrokeshire and back in tidal flows that we can fully utilise. You are correct that the variable & close timing of some of the swims in the Bristol Channel were due to jumping from ebb tides to flood tides rather than looking for all ebbs (as we were in the English Channel) or all floods (which was on the North coast of Cornwall and will be for the way up the Irish sea). Here are records for the Pembrokeshire coast. We have a couple more swims near the Islands of Skomer & Ramsey and then heading out into the Irish sea when there may be a bit of a gap in comms as the best route carries us offshore for a few days.

Swim #74
From off Skomer to off Ramsey Islands
Start Time: 0700 on July 12th
Start Position: 51 deg 45'.528N 005 deg 20'.401W
End Time: 0900
End Position: 51 deg 49'.288N 005 deg 23'.869 W
Distance Covered: 4.33 miles
Comment: Swum in choppy seas. A short swim due to late start and swimmer fatigue. We have anchored for a rest day in Solkva harbour to prepare and provision for the Irish Sea crossing. Many puffins seen along with guillemots and razorbills. In haste, poor signal off Dublin where we pulled in very briefly for water and fuel. Crazy few days of very strong tides have swept us up the Irish sea. Records are tumbling.

Swim #81
Irish Sea stage 7
Start Time: 1050 on July 17th
Start Position: 53 deg 05'.749 N 005 deg 24'.703 W
End Time: 1540
End Position: 53 deg 20'. 198 N 005 deg 29'.272 W
Distance Covered: 14.97 miles
Comment: On it goes! Our fantastic run up the Irish Sea has slowed to a more normal pace as the tides have become less strong and the weather has deteriorated - our first proper rain today, we have taken shelter in the Isle of Man

Swim #90
Isle of Man towards North Channel
Start Time: 0800 on July 23rd
Start Position: 54 deg 08’.416N 005 deg 05’.886 W
End Time: 1500
End Position: 54 deg 18’.034 N 005 deg 09’. 606W
Distance Covered: 9.9 miles
Comment: Swum in good weather. Northern Ireland for dinner! We are looking out for the Mull of Galloway, our first view of Scotland! We have been slowed by slack tides to the North of the Isle of Man, plus a concerted assault by jellyfish restricting us to daytime swimming for the last couple of days. Today however we broke free into the North Channel meaning the tides are running strongly again and we should see numbers start to rise again as we head towards the Mull of Kintyre. The Mull of Galloway is clearly visible to the East, meaning wqe are over the Scottish border in terms of longitude - if the Northern Irish side of the channel.

Swim #92
North Channel approaches to North Channel off Portavogie
Start Time: 1030 on July 25th end 1615
Start Position: 54 deg 22'.746 N 005 deg 12'.511 W
End Time: 1615
End Position; 54 deg 32'.032 N 005 deg 16'.344 W
Distance Covered: 9.55 miles
Comment: Swum in light southerly breeze & sunshine. We have made landfall in Scotland, then had to stop for a day and hide back over in Northern Ireland from a gale, our first of the trip.

Swim #93
From Off Portavogie to off Ballywalter
Start Time: 0130 on July 26th
Start Position: 54 deg 32'.032 N 005 deg 16'.344 W
End Time: 0330
End Position: 54 deg 36'.363N 005 deg 17'. 483 W
Distance Covered: 4.39 miles
Comment: Swum in the dark but with a reddening moon, the first influence of the eclipse

Swim #96
From North Channel towards Mull of Kintyre
Start Time: 0220 on July 28th
Start Position: 54 deg 56'.070N 005 deg 26'.996 W
End Time: 0550
End Position: 55 deg 05'.451 N 005 deg 34'.724 W
Distance Covered: 10.44 miles
Comment: Swum in good tides and chilly Scottish dawn light. We ran for cover over on the Irish side at Glenarm due to Severe Gale 9 forecast with an overnight stop at Glenarm. Today we are back out to aim for the Mull of Kintyre. 14 miles to go till this headland, the rounding of which will give us a clear run up to the Hebrides. We have had intermittent internet signal and rarely when I am able to sit down and transcribe. We are firmly into Scotland - and although beautiful it is, sadly, raining.

Swim #104
From Carraigh an Daimh to Gulf of Corryvreckan approaches
Start Time: 1615 on August 2nd
Start Position: 55 deg 57’.162 N 005 deg 45’.270 W
End Time: 2000
End Position 56 deg 04’.995N 005 deg 39’.456 W
Distance Covered: 8.40 miles
Comment: Swum in flat seas and drizzle, low cloud & fog. We are anchored for the night on the edge of the Gulf of Corryvreckan, trying to work out how to get a swimmer safely across the enormous whirlpools that plague the area. We are in the sound of Mull, heading through the inner Hebrides. Its beautiful and we have been enjoying the clam waters in the islands...but it has been wet.

Swim #108
From Seil Sound/Clachan Sound to Off Kerrera Island
Start Time: 0915 on August 5th
Start Position 56 deg 17'.431 N 005 deg 35'.596 W
End Time: 1230
End Position: 56 deg 21'.261 N 005 deg 35'.448 W
Distance Covered: 3.8 miles
Comment: Swum in through the Clachan Sound under the Bridge over the Atlantic. More calm water and overcast mizzle

Swim #109
From off Kerrera Island to Duart Bay (Isle of Mull)
Start Time: 1900 on August 5th
Start Position 56 deg 21'.261 N 005 deg 35'.448 W
End Time: 2305
End Position: 56 deg 27'.855 N 005 deg 39'.199 W
Distance Covered: 6.9 miles
Comment: Glassy smooth seas and overcast, but back in open water and better current. Jellyfish stopped play in the dark. After a somewhat slow passage through the Sound of Mull, we are back out in open water for a few days heading for Skye. Today we passed another auspicious landmark- Ardnamurchan point, which I think is the westernmost point on the mainland of Great Britain, and as far west as we will go - from this point it is all East of here. Anchored for the night at Muck Island. My late Grandmother told us poems about the Small Isles of Rhum, Eigg and Muck when we were very young - thought it was a great hoot.

Swim #114
From Ardmore Point to Off Muck Island
Start Time: 1010 on August 8th
Start Position: 56 deg 39'.914 N 006 deg 06'.555 W
End Time: 1650
End Position: 56 deg 48'.506 N 006 deg 07'699 W
Distance Covered: 11.99 miles
Comment: Swum in squally & windy weather. We rounded Ardnamurchan Point, our westernmost point on Mainland GB and were visited by the Bessie Ellen, a West country trading ketch from the early 20th Century, skippered by an old seafaring friend of ours. Sights are firmly set on Cape Wrath although a "media day" is planned with BBC and ITV on 13th - 14th in Skye when Ross will become the first man to have swum continuously for more than 73 days. Swimming progress has been slowed by media duties as Ross broke a world record this week and ITV and BBC news have been here. However, we have worked our way up to Skye and we are sitting in view of the Bridge - we will pass under it this afternoon we hope.

Swim #132
From Off Stoer Head to Off Handa Island
Start Time: 0645 on August 24th
Start Position: 58 deg 17’.736 N 005 deg 21’.472 W
End Time: 1150
End Position: 58 deg 22’.014 N 005 deg 16’. 708 W
Distance Covered: 5.01 miles
Comment: Swum in choppy and uncomfortable seas despite light winds. We hope to round cape Wrath next 36 hours; all well aboard. We are just emerging from our long and arduous trip around Cape Wrath and across the top of Scotland...bit of a backlog due to very patchy internet signal and long hours in extremely remote and challenging navigational area. We arrived in relative civilisation today at Thurso - somewhere we know well for the many happy hours we have spent surfing here...Tomorrow and Friday, the weather and tides look OK for Ross to swim to Jon O Groats! It is going to be less than 2 months since he left Landsend. The only previous swimmer to do the Lands End to J.O G section took 144 days!
Everyone well aboard, but all a bit exhausted. We will do day swims only for the next few days while we recover a bit and prepare for the next big crossing - the Moray Firth.

Swim #140
From off Melvich to Holborn Head
Start Time: 0810 on August 29th
Start Position: 58 deg 37’.089 N 003 deg 54’.629 W
End Time: 1330
End Position: 58 deg 38’.875 N 003 deg 33’.158 W
Distance Covered: 11.44 miles
Comment: Swum in SW winds and sunshine with increasing tides. We are at Jon O Groats! Very exciting. A lot of current through the Pentland Firth, we thought it would be thus, but always gratifying to hit strong predicted tides at the right time and find swimmer and boat carried along at high speed. Also to arrive at such a symbolic landmark especially after some of the slow and difficult swims through the Western Isles and background anxiety about ever making it around Cape Wrath, etc.

Swim #141
From off Holborn Head to Duncansby Head
Start Time: 0905 on August 30th
Start Position: 58 deg 38’.875 N 003 deg 33’.158 W
End Time: 1350
End Position: 58 deg 39'.583 N 003 deg 02.010 W
Distance Covered: 16.87 miles
Comment: Swum in W winds and sunshine with strong tides in the Pentland Firth. 61 days Lands End to Jon O Groats is another World Record. We are across the Moray Firth. Quite an arduous crossing with slack tides and then worsening weather, but we are now heading south properly having passed the difficult headland of Rattray today.

Swim #152
From off Rattray Head to off Peterhead
Start Time: 1045 on September 9th
Start Position: 57 deg 42'.711 N 001 deg 49'.125 W
End Time: 1520
End Position: 57 deg 31'.667 N 001 deg 43'.625 W
Distance Covered: 11.83 miles
Comment: Swum in rough seas but strong tides. Now sheltering overnight in Peterhead. The crew are well with all, but Peony of our gang aboard. We are surrounded by Oil Rig supply vessels and tied up to a stinking Ice Factory. This isn't the Western Isles any more.

Swim #153
From off Peterhead to off Newburgh
Start Time: 1030 on September 10th
Start Position: 57 deg 31'.667 N 001 deg 43'.625 W
End Time: 1520
End Position: 57 deg 19'.064 N 001 deg 53'.209 W
Distance Covered: 13.74 miles
Comment: Swum in very rough seas with strong tides running over headwinds. Anchored for the night in the Ythan River, at Newburgh, the mouth of which was home to the largest seal colony I have ever seen

Swim #154
From off Newburgh to Aberdeen
Start Time: 1130 on September 11th
Start Position: 57 deg 19'.064 N 001 deg 53'.209 W
End Time: 1630
End Position: 57 deg 08'.783 N 001 deg 59'.594 W
Distance Covered: 10.8 miles
Comment: Swum in continuing rough seas with strong tides over SW headwinds. Heading south! Regular Internet and one swim per day at the moment - easy to keep up with the admin side. We are now in Stonehaven, a lovely town harbour and completely different sort of place to Aberdeen!

Swim #155
From off Aberdeen to off Stonehaven
Start Time: 1150 on September 12th
Start Position: 57 deg 08'.783 N 001 deg 59'.594 W
End Time: 1720
End Position: 56 deg 57'.822 N 002 deg 09'.220 W
Distance Covered: 12.11 miles
Comment: Swum in calmer seas, strong tides and lighter SW headwinds. We should be crossing the Firth of Forth over the next week, likely to be arriving the English Border on weds or Thursday next week

Swim #156
From Stonehaven to off Gourdon Harbour
Start Time: 1237 on September 13th
Start Position: 56 deg 57'.822 N 002 deg 09'.220 W
End Time: 1733
End Position: 56 deg 48'.164 N 002 deg 17'.389 W
Distance Covered: 10.84 miles
Comment: Swum in rough seas, strong tides and strong SW headwinds. The Firth of Forth still firmly in our sights for the coming days' gales and some repairs to do, there never seems to be enough time to do everything at the moment. Crossing the Firth of Forth which put us at last in reach of the English border which we duly crossed yesterday. Hurrah!

Swim #170
From off Beadnell to off Alnmouth
Start Time: 1300 on September 26th
Start Position: 55 deg 322'.909 N 001 deg 35'.640 W
End Time: 1747
End Position 55 deg 23'.021 N 001 deg 31'.974 W
Distance Covered: 10.24 miles
Comment: In gales with sunshine & strong tides. Holed up in a remote anchorage near Alnmouth this morning waiting for gales to abate. No swim last night due to weather. Relentlessly tide on-tide of swimming as the autumn is getting cold & windy up here - Ross is straining every sinew to get South before it gets any colder and darker!

Swim #185
From Bridlington Bay to off Aldburgh (Spurn)
Start Time: 1412 on October 8th
Start Position: 53 deg 58’.393 N 000 deg 05’.096 W
End Time: 1810
End Position: 53 deg 50’.684 N 000 deg 02’.156 W
Distance Covered: 8.04 miles
Comment: Swum in continuing SW winds & sunshine. It was cold, wet, wintry and dark here now, everyone is feeling a bit exhausetd, although the end is very much in sight. We are attacking the Thames estuary crossing in the next couple of days...Margate arrival is scheduled for the 4th!

November 3rd was a Lay day anchored off Margate Roads and preparing for the final swim to shore.

Swim #209
From Margate Roads to Margate Beach: The last swim!
Start Time: 0705 on November 4th
Start Position: 51 deg 25’.173 N 001 deg 24’.017 E
End Time: 0845
End Position: Margate Beach where it started on November 4th 2018
Distance Covered: 1.87 miles
Comment: Swum in calm seas and with the company of friends & family

Escort pilot Matt Knight briefly explains the intricacies of completing the final leg of the unprecedented circumnavigation swim. "Long sands head, Kentish Knock, and Outer tongue are not really places; they just refer to channels and shifting tidal sand banks in the Thames Estuary and are only visible on nautical charts.

I have a pilot book that describes over 60 possible routes for crossing the Thames Estuary. It was certainly one of the more challenging parts of planning the swim due to the extensive and numerous shifting sand banks, very strong tides, busy shipping lanes and often foul weather."

His performance and achievement was recognized by Guinness World Records.

The Other Shore

The Other Shore follows world record holder and legendary swimmer Diana Nyad as she comes out of a thirty-year retirement to re-attempt an elusive dream: swimming 103 miles non-stop from Cuba to Florida without the use of a shark cage. Her past and present collide in her obsession with a feat that nobody has ever accomplished. At the edge of The Devil’s Triangle, tropical storms, sharks, venomous jellyfish, and one of the strongest ocean currents in the world, all prove to be life-threatening realities. Timothy Wheeler’s documentary brings Diana Nyad’s extraordinary adventure to life as Diana sets out to prove that will and determination are all you need to make the unimaginable possible.LEARN MORE...

2014 Open Water Swimming Almanac

An Almanac for Open Water Swimming

An almanac is essentially a body of knowledge which is so complete that it enables people in different fields to make predictions about the future of their respective industries.

This, for example, was the purpose of the traditional farmers almanacs. It enabled farmers to determine as accurately as possible which crops to plant for the greatest harvests in a given year.

But the farmers almanac was just one example among many. There are, of course, many different kinds of almanacs.

Congratulations to Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González of Mexico

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2015 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year

Lewis Pugh Presents WOWSA Awards at Big Chill Swim

5 February 2016 in Windermere

2014 & 2015 WOWSA Awards

World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year, World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year, World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year and World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year will be celebrated at the Big Chill Swim, one of the world's largest winter swimming festivals

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1 - 3 - 9 mile ocean swims on July 19th

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SWIM THE ISLAND is the ultimate open water swimming event taking place in the fascinating Marine Protected Area of Bergeggi, in the north-west coast of Italy. The event takes place in an absolutely spectacular natural setting, offering swimmers the vision of one of the most extraordinary seabeds of the Mediterranean sea.